Finger tip moistener



Dec- 16 1952 R. P. INGRAHAM 2,621,356

FINGER TIP MosTENER Filed Dec. 27, 1946 Patented Dec. 16, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FINGERI TIP MOISTENER Robert P. Ingraham, San Antonio, Tex.

Application December 27, 1946, Serial No. 718,698

i Claim. 1

This invention relates to rncistening devices, and more particularly Yto moisteners adapted to be supported for convenient use on a finger of the user.

An object of this invention is to provide an irnproved nger-supported device adapted to conveniently moisten the dry mucilage usually ,provided on stamps, envelopes, sticker-s, adhesive tape, or the like.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved moistening device which is adapted to be supported on a finger or digital member of the user and which is capacitated to absorb a liberal quantity of moistening liquid from an eX- ternal fountain or from a self-contained receptacle and conveniently apply the liquid to adhesive surfaces to moisten the same.

A specifi-c object of this invention is to provide an improved laminated moistening device having an inner lamina shaped to substantially conform to and receive the outer portion of a nger of the user to thereby secure the device to the finger, a liquid-retaining member or lamina surrounding the inner lamina, and an outer lamina formed of porous or capilliform material surrounding the liquid-retaining lamina, the inner lamina being preferably formed of a material which is impervious to the moistening liquid.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide an improved laminated moistening device having an inner lamina shaped to receive the outer portion of a finger or digital member of the user to thereby detachably secure the device to the finger, a lamina cf cellulated yieldable material surrounding the inner lamina; a lamina of soft, yieldable porous material surrounding the cellulated material, and means for applying water or other moistening liquid to the cellulated material.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a finger tip moistener of generally improved construction, whereby the device will be simple, durable and inexpensive in construction, as well as convenient, practical, serviceable and eincient in its use.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts, and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that various changes in form, proportion and minor details of construction may be made within the scope of the claim without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any advantages of the invention.

For a complete disclosure of the invention, a

detailed description thereof will now be given in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part of the specification, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a form ofthe improved moistener; t

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken through a supply fountain and depicting the moistener in side elevation and supported in the saddle of the fountain;

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken through a modified form of the invention;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of another modified form of the invention; and

Figure 6 is a. transverse sectional View taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts, I0 and Ia indicate different forms of a soft yieldable laminated moistening device adapted to be supported on a nger or digital member of the user in convenient position to apply water or other suitable moistening liquid to adhesive surfaces of stamps, envelopes, stickers, adhesive tape or the like.

The moistener depicted in Figures 1, 2 and 3 includes an inner lamina or lining II formed of soft yieldable material which is impervious or resistant to water or other moistening liquids, and it is normally of cylindrical formation having an open outer terminal surrounded by an annular thickened portion or bead I2, and its inner terminal is closed by a semispherical end wall I3. A tubular lamina I5 of soft, yieldable, porous material, such as sponge rubber, conforms to and surrounds the cylindrical side wall and closed end wall I3 of the inner lamina II, and it is preferably cemented or otherwise secured thereto. The thickest portion I6 of the lamina I5 surrounds the semispherical end wall I3 of inner lamina I I, then its thickness is gradually decreased as it approaches the open end of the lamina Il, and it terminates at or adjacent the annular bead I2, as indicated at I'I.

An outer tubular lamina IB of soft, yieldable, porous material, such as soft leather or chamois, is secured to and completely surrounds the lamina I5, and its open terminal is secured tothe inner lamina I I at or adjacent the annular bead I2, as indicated at 20. The upper or back portion of the outer lamina I8 is preferably painted with a thin layer of rubber or other water-resisting material I9.

A fountain, well, or receptacle 2l is provided.

and it includes a chamber 22 for holding a liberal quantity of water or other suitable moistening liquid, and the liquid is supplied to the chamber through a filling aperture 23 formed in its upper or top wall 25. The upper wall 25 has a concave and perforated or slotted saddle 26 depending therefrom into the water chamber 22. An arcuate lip or stop 21 extends upwardly from the top Wall 25 and forms a continuation of the saddle 26, for a purpose to be hereinafter explained.

When not in use, the moistening device i9 rests in the saddle 26 of the fountain 21 with 'a portion of it immersed in the moistening liquid so that the lamina I 5 absorbs a liberal quantity of the moistening liquid from the fountain. The axis of the moistening device is inclined so that a finger of the user may be conveniently passed through the open end of and into the tubular inner lamina H. When the finger is inserted, the yieldable inner lamina Il substantially conforms to the finger, and the elastic bead I?. grips the finger sufficiently to hold the moistener thereon. While the 'finger is being inserted into the moistener, the moistener is held against move- ,ment away from the finger by the rounded lower 'end of the saddle 26 and the stop lip 2?.

When the moistener is secured to the finger, it

is manipulated so that the lower portion of the porous outer lamina I8 engages and moves along the adhesive surface which is to be moistened. :5;

operations are completed, the moistener is re- ,t

turned to the open saddle 26 of the fountain 2i, Where it absorbs a replenishing supply of liquid preparatory to future use.

In the form of the invention depicted in Figure 4, a'liquid-supply tank or receptacle 39 is provided which is communicated with the cellular liquid-absorbing lamina l5 through a perforated or foraminous 'bottom portion 3| and the outer porous lamina I8. A filling-neck 32 is provided for the tank and it is closed by `a removable screw-cap or closure 33. The tank may be formed of metal, plastic, rubber or any suitable material, and its bottom is shaped to conform to the outer lamina 18, and it is cemented or otherwise secured thereto.

In 'this arrangement, the moistening liquid is supplied from the tank 36, and its supply of moistening liquid may be replenished when desiredby simply removing the screw-cap and lfilling the tank through the neck or filling opening 32,

-In the form of'the invention depicted in Figures 5 and 6, the inner lamina Ha of the moistening device la is preferably formed of'resilient materiaLsuch as thin kmetal or plastic, shaped to 'substantially conform to the lower Vouter portion vinner lamina il a, and a porous lamina 18a surrounds the absorbing lamina. The outer edges of therolled portion I la bind the upper or outer terminals of the laminas 15a and 18a to the inner plastic lamina Ila, thus providing a watertight joint for the liquid-retaining tank 30a. A filling opening or neck 32a is provided for the tank 30a and this opening is normally closed by a screw-cap or closure 33a. The liquid-retainingl tank 30a is preferably of U-shape formation, as best seen in Figure 5, in order to permit the outer portion of the finger to be inserted into the moistening device.

In use, the device may be supported on a finger of the user by merely forcing the nger past the rolled portions of the resilient inner lamina Im into the stall defined by the lamina. Now the moistening device may be moved along a surface of dry adhesive until sufficient quantity of moistening liquid has been deposited thereon to moisten it to adhesive state. When the supply of moistening liquid is exhausted, it may be conveniently replenished by removing the screw cap 33a and pouring a sufficient quantity through the opening 32a.

This form ofthe invention may aiso be used with the fountain 2| to receive its supply of moistening liquid therefrom. In this event the filling-neck 32a and cap 33a may be omitted and the rolled portion of the inner lamina Ha be made smaller.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is:

A nnger-supported moistener including an inner lamina formed of fiexible material which is impervious to the moistening liquid employed and shaped to substantially conform to and entirely enclose the outer portion of the finger of the user and having a finger entrance opening formed therein, said moistener capable of freely rotating upon the finger a relatively thick and substantially rigid finger-holding portion surrounding lthe finger entrance opening, a lamina of liquid-absorbingand retaining material entirely surrounding "the inner lamina and adapted to Yabsorb and retain a quantity of the moistening liquid, and 'an outer lamina formed cf porous material entirely surrounding said liquid-absorbing lamina.

ROBERT P. INGRAHAM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 247,033 Fisher Sept. 13, 1881 509,156 Fry Nov. 2l, 1893 '721,112 Wea-ver Feb. 17, 1903 774,558 Browne Nov. 8, 1904 1,200,596 Daly Oct. 10, 1916 1,255,925 Peters Feb. l2, 1918 1,482,319 Price Jan. 29, 1924 1,619,180 Benussi Mar. 1, 1927 1,688,374 Belfry Oct. 23, 1928 1,979,130 Wiley Oct. 30, 1934 V2,018,903 Stevens Oct. 29, 1935 2,318,365 Boysen May'4, 1943 2,379,624 Chisnell July 3, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 377,747 Great Britain Aug-4, 1932 747,647 France Apr. 4, 1933 

